An area realtor was arrested for defrauding a Central Florida couple who hired him to sell their properties but were exploited instead, and another realtor was charged with being an accessory after the fact.
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood recently described the scheme on social media. According to local law enforcement, realtor Jason Valiant not only exploited a sick Ormond Beach couple and took control of their assets, but he signed a Do Not Resuscitate order for one of his victims, who was taken off life support the next day.
“Thanks to our Volusia Sheriff’s Office fraud unit, Valiant is now in custody for his elaborate scam on this couple who originally hired him to sell their property,” Sheriff Mike Chitwood said. “Unfortunately, they chose a wolf in sheep’s clothing who saw an opportunity to make himself rich. When both victims got sick and became hospitalized with deteriorating health, their Scumbag Realtor created fraudulent documents making himself their Health Care Surrogate and Power of Attorney.”
According to the Volusia Sheriff’s office, Valiant proceeded to drain money from their bank accounts, willed their home and two other properties to himself, and even took their Dodge Ram pickup for his own use across Central Florida. In addition to the thousands he stole via checks, Valiant used his victim’s credit card for things like attorney’s fees, a teeth whitening procedure, auto detailing, dinner and drinks, and gas.
According to law enforcement, the three properties Valiant acquired after the victim’s death totaled $1.6 million, according to property appraiser valuations. Two of the properties were oceanfront Flagler Beach parcels that Valiant and another realtor, Constance Kellner, spoke of developing into a large condo complex or hotel.
Instead of working to sell the properties, the Sheriff’s office said it appears Valiant provided his victims fake lowball offers – including one from his own company.
Kellner, also known as ‘Coastal’ Connie Kellner, is charged with two counts of being an accessory after the fact. According to law enforcement, the investigation showed that she had full knowledge of Valiant’s scheme and helped him with the fraudulent Power of Attorney and Life Estate Deed documents.
Valiant is charged with organized scheme to defraud, exploitation of an elderly or disabled adult, grand theft over $100,000, grand theft of a vehicle, criminal use of personal ID information, and illegal use of credit cards. He was picked up by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
